Intelligence from the United States and its international partners played a critical role in averting a planned terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna earlier this month, potentially saving hundreds of lives, Bloomberg reports, citing a senior US official.
CIA Deputy Director David Cohen disclosed the US involvement during the Insa intelligence conference on Wednesday, stating that the CIA and other intelligence agencies provided Austrian authorities with key information that led to the arrests of suspects linked to the Islamic State.
“As a result, hundreds of lives undoubtedly were saved,” Cohen remarked. “Within my agency and others there were people who thought that was a really good day — not just the Swifties in my workforce.”
The planned attacks led to cancellations of Swift’s three concerts in Vienna, part of her widely popular Eras Tour, which were set for early August. Authorities had anticipated that tens of thousands of fans would gather at the stadium, both inside and outside.
The main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian citizen, was reportedly in contact with two minors, one of whom was scheduled to work at the concert venue. Officials confirmed that the suspect has confessed to being involved in the plot, and all others allegedly connected to the conspiracy have been detained. In the investigation, police searched the main suspect’s home about an hour south of Vienna, uncovering chemical substances, manuals for preparing explosive devices, knives, and material promoting the Islamic State.
While Cohen did not provide additional details about the specific intelligence concerning the plot against Swift’s concerts, the swift actions of law enforcement have been credited with preventing a potential tragedy.
